Palisadians Pack the Park for ‘Back to the Future’

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

A summertime tradition in Pacific Palisades for 16 years, Movies in the Park kicked off its 2019 season with a screening of “Back to the Future,” honoring the late Arnie Wishnick.

“It was great,” MITP President and Founder David Williams shared with the Palisadian-Post about dedicating the show to Wishnick. “There were a lot of people applauding … a lot of people came up to us and thanked us.”

Williams added that the moment was bittersweet and that he had to turn away from the microphone for a moment, but that he was happy the organization was able to dedicate it to Wishnick, whose wife and daughter attended the event.

Williams, who lives in the Alphabet Streets, said the movie drew more than 450 attendees, which he shared was especially good because the first weekend of the season falls into what is usually vacation time for many Palisadians.

Those who attend a movie in the park this year have much to look forward to, including weekly giveaways and raffles. Palisades Village, a 2019 MITP sponsor, is raffling off a gift card for a different merchant each week. Other sponsors, including Palisades Pit Stop, will be giving away services.

Williams said that of the remaining four screenings, he is most looking forward to this weekend’s, taking place on Saturday, August 10.

“I love ‘The Wizard of Oz,’” Williams said. The classic movie is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, and though there will be no official costume contest this year, Williams anticipates attendees dressing up like Dorothy for the show.

He said that he believes “Finding Nemo” will be one of the more popular movies this year, as a post about the upcoming screening has been shared more than 3,000 times.

Each showing takes place at Palisades Recreation Center, with the movie starting at nightfall—around 8 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring a picnic basket, blanket and chair, but leave the pets, smoking and stick-legged chairs at home.

Questions about upcoming screenings can be directed to moviesintheparkpacpal@gmail.com.